UVI Opal Compressor (Windows)

As emulation technology advances and the boundaries between digital and physical sound shaping become less defined, UVI has demonstrated a capacity to develop uncompromising sonic sculpting tools that are rooted in vintage hardware. With their Opal plug-in, they’ve delivered a masterclass in emulation expertise, boasting a suite of compression controls forged from the meticulously captured, faithful re-creation of seven iconic hardware optical compressors. Each model can be fired up at will, providing the baseline of distinctive character that defined their physical predecessors. From there, a streamlined interface allows you to easily and accurately dial in your sound, sans the menu diving. A suite of sound design tools accompanies the onboard presets, including a toggleable treble boost and tube simulation. The controls also include mid-frequency presence, drive, and responsiveness, in addition to a host of gain management tools and a 1-click sidechain. Production pros at Sweetwater love the real-time visual feedback between the VU meter and color-coded Gain Reduction Graph, providing all the information you need in an easily decipherable format.